In or around 1929, Gram and Grandpa Cliff moved from Chicago to an Indiana farm with their two children, Charles and Shirley. The Great Depression had driven down Cliff's wages at his "good job in the hospital as a biologist" to the point where they could no longer afford their rent.
Cliff's brother (?) owned a farm in Indiana and it was a safe place to "just exist," as Gram put it this afternoon at the farm, until they could weather the storm and get back on their feet financially. They were bound and determined to never go looking for help from the government, and never did.
They didn't know anything at all about farming and looking back on it now, the entire thing is more a nightmare than adventure to Gram. There were no fences for the cattle, of which ther were precious few and scarce enough money to purchase any more, were apparently allowed to wander aimlessly in the barnyard and near the farm. This didn't turn into a problem until they got into the green oats one day.
Cattle are never supposed to eat green oats, because for some reason it makes them swell up with gas--like balloons. So, of course, the cattle swelled up like balloons.
Gram's father happened, luckily, to be visiting, and knew exactly what to do. He sterilized a pocketknife and stuck the first cow in her belly. As the gas escaped, it sounded like a balloon flying around the room as the air runs out of it.
They stuck each cow.
You can't make this shit up.
Gram told me this story today when I went to visit, and we both cried with laughter. What a secret and lovely treasure I possess living up there "just existing" in that little house in Northern Wisconsin.
7 comments:
I read a story on this once, (James Herriot maybe) except the brain trust decided it would be fun to light the methane gas that was escaping, and burned the barn down.
Oh, and Erin, I love the fact that on most of your posts the titles are funny enough to make me laugh before I even start reading them.
LOL--too good about burning down the barn. I love it.
Richard didn't believe the story, but now, I have confirmation!
What?!? And that was it? After the cows deflated they were good to go? No way. Too weird.
I cant believe you can just stab a cow. That is just too cruel (but not cruel enough if that cow becomes a big mac). There has to be a better method.
-rich
My dear Erin ...I think your story is a tad puffed up if you get my whiff! I can only imagine the pain and infection that sets into the belly of the beast. Now I will have to stop feeding Bob oats to see if that helps his bloat and the dairy air. Mom II
Want to go to Outback?
It is the truth that if cows become bloated they will be very ill and they just can't burp like people do. An old remedy WAS to allow the pent-up gas to escape and the way they did that was to poke a hole and THAR SHE BLOWS!
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